Dakar Rally motorcycle unveiled

There are few bikes that get me going more than a Dakar Rally bike.
I’m no off-roader, but these things just look so menacing with their tall screens and all that Inspector Gadget stuff on the triple clamps.
They ooze technology and exotic components.
Now Honda has released official photos of their new CRF450 RALLY which has been specifically designed for rally racing.
Honda’s motorcycle works team for rally races, Team HRC, will use the CRF450 RALLY at the Dakar Rally in Argentina, Bolivia and Chile in January.
The team returned to the gruelling event this year after 24 years with five riders.
Helder Rodrigues finished a credible seventh with Javier Pizzolito right behind him and American Johnny Campbell unlucky to not rate higher than 40th. Sam Sunderland and Felipe Zanol failed to finish.
The bike is based on the fuel-injected CRF450X enduro racing model but has added fuel tanks, tweaked suspension and navigation equipment added.
While these bikes cost $12,990 (plus on-road costs) in Australia, one can only guess at the cost of these machines; probably as much as a quarter of a million dollars.
Team HRC will compete in the Morocco Rally, starting this Sunday, in preparation for the 2014 Dakar Rally. The bike will also be available for other rally teams for 2014.